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Jones Pleased With Progress On Defense

The Jaguars fourth practice of the spring, the second in full pads, lasted over two hours on Tuesday at the practice fields on campus. Afterwards coach Jones indicated that he was happy with the team’s progress so far this spring.

“I’m real happy”, Jones said. “We’ve got some things to work on like any spring, but we’re trying to work a lot of guys. I think we will be able to evaluate ourselves a little more in a couple of weeks, but right now we are on track.”

The Jags worked on several fundamentals during the first half of practice including a turnover circuit, screens and run plays and individual skill drills. Then in the second half of practice they moved on to short-yardage plays and 7-on-7 skeleton passing drills. The 7-on-7 drills included first, second and third down passing drills. The players came together for a team segment working on perimeter drills, second-and-10 situations and other first and second down plays.

Defensively though, the Jags caught coach Jones’ eye as they began to get the new scheme and terminology. “I thought, defensively, it was a much better day,” Jones explained. “The guys are starting to get it scheme-wise and were flying around to the football. I think that’s due to understanding better what they have to do. They took a big step today. There’s not much change, we’re still going to play hard-nosed football. Kevin Sherrer has done a heck of a job getting these guys to understand how we need to play.”

The team will have Wednesday off before returning to the practice field on Thursday for a half-practice, half-scrimmage at 6am. It will be the last practice before spring break.

Coach Jones and his staff want to see how the players react to game-like situations on the field. The coaches don’t have to stress how important it is, they are working hard to earn playing time this fall.

Coaches are looking to get players as many reps as possible, not really worrying about who is first or second string. “We really haven’t looked at it (depth chart),” Jones explained. “We obviously have to have people lined up to have an organized practice.”

“The bottom line is, we want to get them all reps right now,” Coach Jones reiterated. “We’ll evaluate that more after this week. Really throughout spring we’re going to try to stay away from who’s first-string and second-string. We’re trying to get everybody reps and make them better.”